Improvement in explosive shells



L- E. WILLIAMS. sneu Patented May 30, 1865.

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LEWIS E. WILLIAMS, ORPEEIISKILL, NEW YORK.

'l MPROVEMENI IN expresiva sHELLsy Specifica-tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,005,l datedMay L0, 1&65.

To -rtZZ wlmi@ it 71mg/ concern Beit known that I, LEWIS E. WILLIAMS, of Peekskill, Vestehesterconnty, State of New York, have invented .new and useful Improve- `ments in Explosive Shells; and I do hereby declare the following to be an exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompany- 'ing drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part ofthis specifi-v cation.

The nature of my invention consists in one or more center r radial chambers dividing the sbelllinto sections, and vother chambers, one in each section, each having an aperture for charging, in which fuses are afterwardinserted.

.The object of my invention is to produce a number of' separate explosions. The first ex plosion divides the shell into distinct sections. Afterward each section explodes and seatters separately; or the shell may be charged so that the fuses may ignite and explode the sec' tions all together at the same instant of time as one Shell.

Figure l represents a cross-section of the` shell. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the shell,"l showing the shape ofthe chambers lengtliovis'e.` Fifn exhibits a sectional View of a center cross-chamber.

I propose making,` it an eleven-inch shell Weighinglabout one hundred andl thirty-nine pounds; empty, one hundred and tlhirtybnek eter of the shot, l'or the pounds; Weight of powder, eightpounds. The shell is spherical, and has central erosssections or radial chambers, A A AA, and separate an gnlar chambers B B B B between the crosssections. l It has one or inorjI apertures, C, D, E, F, and Gr, for charging, and fuses are to be inserted and screwed intothe apertures. The vcenter fuse will be larger than the others,so

as to time theshell, and to be properly ehargeil to ignite the whole ofthe fuses sim'zltaneonsly or separately. The ends or' the chambers A extend\toapoint, H, an angular groove in the outside Shell, so tlnn the shell is thinner at the groove H than 'at anyv other part, and the bursting will more easily take place at those grooves and explode the shell intovsec tions.' I do not, however, wish to limit the bursting; oftheshellto toni-parts. If may make four or more cross-sections A. so as to lorm a multipartite shell.

\Vhat l claim my invention, and desire to 'secure by Letters Patent, is-^ A series of radial chambers extending from a common central chamber to the inner periml purpose ot' dividing lthe interior of the shot into a series of Sopa-- rate and distinct chambers to contain explo` sive .materia-l, substantially-as dI scribed.

LEAVIS E. TILLL-klilS.

' 'i Witnessem J. FRANKLIN RnIGAR'r. yJol-IN S. IloLLIxGsIIILxn. 

